Horse Cushings Disease Welfare | Animal Welfare Hub

Managing Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction in horses to maintain comfort and quality of life.

Key Facts

PPID, commonly known as equine Cushing's disease, is one of the most common endocrine disorders in older horses
Signs include hypertrichosis, muscle wasting, increased drinking and urination, and laminitis risk
Pergolide medication effectively controls PPID in most horses when given consistently
Uncontrolled PPID significantly increases laminitis risk, a painful and potentially life-threatening condition
Regular annual testing is recommended for horses over 15 years to enable early diagnosis
Quality of life in well-managed PPID horses can be excellent with appropriate medical and nutritional care

Welfare Considerations

PPID represents one of the most welfare-significant manageable conditions in senior horses. Left untreated, it causes significant suffering through muscle wasting, susceptibility to infection, and particularly laminitis — one of the most painful conditions horses experience. The good news is that pergolide treatment is highly effective, and well-managed horses with PPID can maintain excellent quality of life for many years. Early diagnosis through routine screening of older horses enables treatment to begin before welfare-significant complications develop. Annual ACTH testing in horses over 15 should be considered standard preventive care.

What You Can Do

Test horses over 15 years annually for PPID during the endorsed seasonal rise testing window
Start pergolide treatment as directed by a vet if PPID is diagnosed, without waiting for complications
Monitor managed PPID horses carefully for laminitis risk and adjust diet to minimize sugar and starch
Maintain coat clipping schedules in horses with hypertrichosis to prevent overheating and skin conditions
Discuss quality of life monitoring with a vet to ensure ongoing welfare assessment as horses age with PPID